17 For the children of Israel, having departed, came to their cities on the third day; and their cities were Gibeon, and Kefira, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-Jearim.

18 [Joshua and] the children of Israel did not beat them, because [all] the leaders of the congregation swore to them by the Lord God of Israel. For this the whole congregation [of Israel] murmured against the rulers.

19 And all the rulers said to all the assembly, 'We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel, and therefore we cannot touch them;

20 But this is what we will do with them: let us let them live, lest wrath come upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.

21 And the rulers said to them, Let them live, but they will chop wood and draw water for the whole congregation. [And the whole society] did as the rulers told them.

22 Jesus called them and said, "Why have you deceived us, saying, 'We are very far from you,' when you live near us?

23 For this you are cursed! you will be slaves without end, chopping wood and drawing water for the house of my God.

24 And they answered and said to Joshua, 'It has come to the knowledge of your servants, that the Lord your God has commanded Moses his servant to give you all the land, and to destroy [us, and] all the inhabitants of the land before you. therefore we were very much afraid lest you should take our lives, and we did this deed;

25 Now behold, we are in thy hand: whatsoever thou thinkest best and justest to do unto us, do so.

26 And he dealt with them in this way, He delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, and they did not put them to death;

27 And Jesus ordained that day that they should chop wood and draw water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord; [therefore the inhabitants of Gibeon have become woodcutters and water-carriers for the altar of God] even to this day, in whatever place [the Lord] has chosen.

Chapter 10

1 And when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and put him under a curse, and that he had done the same to Ai and his king, as he had done to Jericho and his king, and that the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and remained among them,

2 Then he was very afraid, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the king's cities, and greater than Ai, and all the inhabitants thereof were valiant men.